Nova Scotia wants more flexibility in temporary foreign worker program

HALIFAX – Nova Scotia’s labour minister says she is concerned that businesses in the province will suffer under recent changes to the federal temporary foreign workers program.

Kelly Regan says she will argue some industries in the province need to be treated differently under the program when she meets federal Employment Minister Jason Kenney next week.

Regan says the province wants more flexibility in the program to help fish plant owners, restaurants and tournament operators.

She says those industries are going to have a hard time finding enough staff under the new rules.

Under the recently announced revisions to the program, employers in the accommodation, food and retail sectors would be barred from hiring low-wage temporary foreign workers in regions where unemployment is above six per cent.

But Regan says Halifax is the only region in Nova Scotia with a low enough unemployment rate to allow low-wage temporary foreign workers to be employed in most industries.